NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE omens as to the German Election are not as yet satis- factory. The Radicals, it is true, have broken into two .parties ; but the only effect of that will be a great increase in the strength of the Social Democrats, who expect to seat sixty candidates. The Centre, too, is turning democratic, and an unexpected amount of Particularism displays itself, the lower classes in the smaller States declaring the whole business "too Prussian." Prince Bismarck's following has declared against the Bill as increasing numbers at the expense of efficiency, and even the Conservatives are demanding the rejection of Free-trade treaties as the price of their support. We see, too, that we last week misconceived the meaning of one part of the Bill -which we thought would be popular. The privileges of the 4' one-year" recruits who are the sons of the well-to-do are not interfered with. It is the Ersatz Reserve which will dis- -appear ; and the Ersatz Reserve consists of the men who are in excess of the number required, and who are set aside not by favour but by lot. There is nearly a month, however, to elapse before the Election, which is fixed for June 15th; and -within that time the Emperor may have addressed his people, who, for one thing, desire some irreversible pledge as to the -two years' service.
